Strawberry plant named ‘Stata’

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a new and distinct strawberry variety designated as ‘Stata’ (a.k.a. ‘109740’). The ‘Stata’ cultivar is primarily adapted to growing conditions of the central coast of California and produces strong vigorous plants that remain in fruit production from March through October.

Latin name of the genus and species: Fragaria x ananassa.

Varietal denomination: ‘Stata’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety designated as ‘Stata’ (a.k.a. ‘109740’).

‘Stata’ (a.k.a. ‘109740’) is the result of a controlled-cross between a female parent cultivar designated ‘108999’ (a proprietary cultivar made by the inventor, and not been made available to the public) and a male parent cultivar designated ‘Preakness’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,966). Following selection and during testing, the plant was originally designated ‘109740’ and subsequently named ‘Stata’.

This new variety was asexually reproduced via runners (stolons) by the inventor at Watsonville, Calif. Asexual propagules from the original source have been tested in Watsonville growing fields and to a limited extent, grower fields in high elevation. The properties of this variety were found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. This cultivar is stable and reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of the cultivar as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions. The age of the plants in FIGS. 1-6 is six months old.

FIG. 1 shows ‘Stata’ plant with florescence and fruit.

FIG. 2 shows ‘Stata’ fruit.

FIG. 3 shows ‘Stata’ fruit interior.

FIG. 4 shows ‘Stata’ flowers.

FIG. 5 shows ‘Stata’ leaf.

FIG. 6 shows ‘Stata’ petiole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive strawberry cultivar designated as ‘Stata’ (a.k.a. ‘109740’). This cultivar is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

The following traits and photographs in combination distinguish the strawberry variety ‘Stata’ from known strawberry varieties. Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. Any color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The age of the plants in Table 1 is seven months old.

TABLE 1 Characteristics of Stata Characteristic Type Characteristic Stata General Plant Habit annual Plant Growth Habit upright Day length neutral Planting season Fall Height 39.5 cm Width 41.0 cm Density of foliage light to medium Plant vigor high Freezing Quality moderate Rain/weather tolerance moderate Harvest Ease moderate Leaf Leaf Shape concave Leaflet texture soft Leaf average width 127 mm Leaf average length 83 mm Terminal leaflet width 76 mm Terminal leaflet length 81 mm Terminal leaflet length/width ratio 1.07 Teeth per terminal leaflet 18 to 25 Shape of the terminal leaflet base rounded to acute Shape of terminal leaflet in cross- concave section Shape of the terminal leaflet margin serrate to crenate Color of upper side of leaflet RHS 137A Color of lower side of leaflet RHS 139C Leaf blistering weak Leaf glossiness medium Leaf variegation absent Number of leaflets per leaf 3 Terminal Leaflet margin flat Terminal Leaflet shape orbicular Terminal Leaflet shape of apex rounded Limbs Petiole length 25 cm Petiole diameter 3.65 mm Petiole pubescence dense Petiole pose of hairs horizontal Petiole color RHS 145A Petiolule length 1.3 cm Petiolule diameter 2.60 mm Petiolule color RHS 145A Stipule length 3.1 cm Stipule width 0.6 cm Stipule pubescence medium Stipule anthocyanin present Stipule color (color code) RHS 145C Pedicel average length 19.8 cm Pedicel average diameter 3.12 mm Pedicel color (color code) RHS 144A Attitude of hairs on peduncle and horizontal pedicel Peduncle average length 25.8 mm Peduncle average diameter 3.4 mm Inflore- Inflorescence position relative to above scence foliage Flower arrangement of petals touching Flower size medium to large Flower diameter 2.6 cm Petal shape orbicular Petal apex rounded Petal margin entire Petal base shape concave Petal length 1.6 cm Petal width 1.6 cm Petal length/width ratio 1 Petal number per flower 5 to 7 Number of flowers 41 to 61 Upper Petal color RHS 155C Lower Petal color RHS 155C Peduncle size medium Floral Calyx Diameter 3.0 cm Corolla diameter 2.6 cm Calyx diameter relative to corolla equal to larger Inner calyx diameter relative to outer equal Sepal shape elliptical Sepal apex convex Sepal margin entire Sepal length 0.7 to 1.3 cm Sepal width 0.2 to 0.6 cm Sepal number per flower 10 to 14 Sepal color (upper) RHS 137C Sepal color (lower) RHS 147C Receptacle color RHS 145A Fertility not-tested Time of flowering (50% of plants in April to May bloom) Shape of stigma capitate Color of stigma RHS 163B Length of style 1.4 to 2.0 mm Color of style RHS 4A Color of the ovary 150B Number of stamen 24 to 30 Length of the stamens 2.0 to 6.0 mm Shape of anther dorsifixed Size of anther 1.0 to 1.5 mm Color of anther RHS 163B Amount of pollen moderate Color of pollen RHS 13B to RHS 163B Color of filament RHS 2D Length of filament 1.0 to 5.0 mm Stolon Stolon number 1 to 3 Stolon anthocyanin RHS 183A Stolon thickness medium Stolon pubescence sparse Widest diameter of stolon at leaf 3.17 mm attachment Stolon average length 44.9 cm Stolon color RHS 145A Fruit Fruiting truss length 11.5 to 17.0 cm Fruiting truss diameter 3.38 mm Number of fruit per truss 3 to 8 Truss color 144A Fruit length 43 to 53 cm Fruit width 41.5 cm Fruit skin color RHS 45A Fruit flesh color excluding core RHS 44A Fruit core color RHS 39B Fruit length/width ratio 1.04 to 1.28 Fruit weight 25.6 g Relative fruit size medium Predominant fruit shape globose-conic to conic Shape difference between primary & No shape second difference Width of band without of achenes narrow Fruit glossiness medium to strong Position of achenes even Achene color RHS 135C Achenes per fruit 261 Achene weight 0.157 g Position of calyx below surface Fruit Calyx Diameter 4.5 cm level of adherence of calyx strong Color of calyx RHS 137A Pose of calyx segments reflexed of calyx in relation to fruit smaller Firmness of flesh firm Evenness of flesh color even Fruit hollow length 2.6 cm Fruit hollow width 1.0 cm Fruit hollow length/width ratio 2.6 Hollow center medium Sweetness 8 Brix Acidity 3.18 Texture when tasted fine Time of flowering May Time of fruit ripening May Harvest maturity (50% of plants with June ripe fruit) Type of bearing day neutral Grams of fruit per plant 698 g Yield (lb per acre) 30,777 lb/acre Firmness firm to very firm Surface Texture smooth Fruit Appearance (1-7 scale; 7 = best) 6 Storage longevity 5 to 10 days Horti- Crop suitability Fresh market cultural Temperature tolerance range −1° C. to 36° C. USDA Hardiness Zone adaptability 6a,6b,7a,7b,8a, for annual transplanting of California 8b,9a,9b grown commercial rootstock Cull rate (% Usable) 13.6%

‘Seascape’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,614) is a commercial strawberry variety that is similar to, but distinguished from ‘Stata’. The plant of the new strawberry plant variety ‘Stata’ is smaller compared to ‘Seascape’. The florescence of ‘Stata’ extend beyond the canopy of the plant and the ripe fruit is visible making ‘Stata’ easier to harvest compared to the hand harvest of the fruit of ‘Seascape’, some of which ripens beneath the canopy of the plant. The full season Yield of fruit from the new strawberry plant variety ‘Stata’ is greater than the fruit Yield of comparison variety ‘Seascape’ and the percentage of marketable fruit from new variety ‘Stata’ is greater than the percent of marketable fruit of ‘Seascape’. The average weight of the fruit of ‘Stata’ is slightly less than the average weight of the fruit of ‘Seascape’. The fruit of ‘Stata’ is firmer than the fruit of ‘Seascape’. The color of the fruit of ‘Seascape’ is deeper red than the fruit color of ‘Stata’.

The florescence of ‘Stata’ extends beyond the plant canopy and is different compared to female parent ‘108999’ with florescence that is about even with the canopy. The overall volumetric plant shape of the ‘Stata’ plant is described as round and is different in comparison to the oblate spreading shape of the female parent plant ‘108999’. The fruit of ‘Stata’ is less firm compared to the fruit of female parent ‘108999’. The conical shape of the fruit of ‘Stata’ differs from female parent ‘108999’. The ratio of the height of the fruit of ‘Stata’ and the width of the fruit of ‘Stata’ is very near unity and the dimensional ratio of height to width of female parent ‘108999’ is greater than unity. The fruit Yield of ‘Stata’ is similar to its female parent ‘108999’, but the percentage of marketable fruit from ‘Stata’ is greater than the percentage of marketable fruit produced by female parent ‘108999’. Compared to its male parent the yield of marketable fruit Yield of ‘Stata’ is less than the marketable fruit yield of male parent ‘Preakness’. The fruit of ‘Stata’ is firmer than the fruit of male parent ‘Preakness’. The size of the ‘Stata’ plant is larger than size of its male parent plant ‘Preakness’. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘Stata’ substantially as shown and described herein. 